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A third of travellers fail to check if they have appropriate insurance cover

As thousands of Brits prepare to head off on snow sports holidays this winter, research from ABTA, in partnership with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), shows that a third (33%) of snow lovers never check whether they have taken out appropriate insurance for the activities they are going to do, including skiing and snowboarding.

The Club has plenty of discounts on insurance and would always recommend you purchase a policy as soon as you book your holiday to gain the added benefit of cancellation cover.

Those most likely to travel without the appropriate cover were in the over-55 age bracket, with almost half of that group (46%) admitting that they never check that they are covered for winter sports. This is significantly above the general average of 33%.

There have been 58 British deaths and 118 hospitalisations from skiing and snowboarding holidays reported to the FCO in European resorts in the last four years, with thousands more suffering injuries both on and off-piste. To increase awareness of the importance of being prepared, the FCO has teamed up once again with ABTA as well as former British Winter Olympian Graham Bell to provide helpful advice, from pre-departure to après ski.

“As the ski season gets under way, we want to ensure that everyone is adequately prepared for their winter sports holiday. The research from ABTA suggests that not enough British Nationals are checking they have taken out appropriate insurance before they travel. We want to emphasise the importance of taking responsibility and preparing for your trip so you can #SkiSafe this winter and enjoy your time on the slopes.”

Mark Tanzer, ABTA Chief Executive said:

“People heading off to the slopes this winter should make sure they are covered by the appropriate travel insurance. Winter sports holidays often include activities that may not be covered by the usual insurance policies, so we would advise holidaymakers to check that they are covered for everything they plan to do. Unfortunately, accidents can happen and can lead to costly medical bills, but having appropriate insurance means people can rest assured that they are adequately covered and can make the most of their time on the slopes.”

Five-time Olympian Graham Bell shares his top ten tips for a safe trip this winter:
“It’s fantastic to see so many Brits heading off each winter to take part in the sport I love. There’s a wide range of resorts to choose from across Europe and North America, and it’s great to see so many of my compatriots getting involved.

“Most of the time, nobody will run into any trouble, but to ensure a safe and enjoyable trip, it’s important to stay vigilant on your winter sports break. There have been 58 British deaths in the last four years relating to skiing and snowboarding holidays, and many more injuries and hospitalisations, and so being prepared is key.

“But far from wanting to discourage people from going away this year, I just want to make sure that everyone is taking the necessary precautions to make their trip as fun as possible. Have a look at my top tips for some of the main things to take note of both on and off the slopes”:

Make sure your insurance policy covers all of the winter sports activities that you are planning to do and remember to take your free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) along with you, for necessary treatment at public hospitals in Europe.

Get fit for the slopes by doing ski-specific exercises that work the quads, glutes and core. Try to include balance and co-ordination into your work-out.

If you’re a first time skier, make sure you pick a resort that is suitable and will help you to progress. Look for lots of blue runs, and a beginners’ area close to town.

Use the right equipment including a properly fitting helmet.

When you’re on the slopes make sure you are using appropriate safety equipment, and familiarise yourself with the International Ski Federation guidelines so that you don’t put yourself at risk of a collision.

Don’t forget the sunscreen! You can burn in the mountains even in the middle of winter because of the reflection from the snow.

Make sure you’ve got appropriate footwear for use off the slopes, or get yourself a pair of rubber snow grips to put over your shoes.

Keep in mind that alcohol and winter sports don’t mix. The effects of alcohol are multiplied at altitude, so save it for the après-ski.

If you’re heading out in the evening, make sure to stick together with friends and family. Temperatures can drop dramatically at night, so you don’t want to end up getting lost.

With the biggest show-on-snow about to kick off, what better time to update on the forthcoming British Snowboard & Freeski Championships - an event which has played a pivotal role in identifying the 17 freestyle athletes on Team GB, which heads to PyeongChang with its largest and strongest squad ever to compete at a Winter Olympics.
For more than 25 years, The BRITS has been nurturing freest

As there's generally a fair bit of interest in this Winter Olympics carry-on, we thought we'd throw together a schedule for your viewing pleasure; though, close to being on the opposite side of the planet, and bound to daylight hours, we're unsure how much pleasure this viewing schedule may bring.

FIS Snowboard World Cup – Saturday 2 December – Möenchengladbach GER
Ladies’ Big Air – Katie Ormerod, Aimee Fuller
Men’s Big Air – Rowan Coultas, Matt McCormick
Katie Ormerod opened her season with second place at the Big Air World Cup in Milan three weeks ago and will be hoping to continue that strong form after sitting out last weekend’s event in China.

The competitive snowsports season moves into full swing this weekend with seven British athletes set to compete at two FIS World Cup events.
Following a disrupted start two weeks ago in Austria, the Alpine World Cup moves on to Levi in Finland with Dave Ryding, Laurie Taylor, Alex Tilley and Charlie Guest in action, whilst the Snowboard Big Air World Cup season gets underway in Milan, Italy aft

With the biggest show-on-snow about to kick off, what better time to update on the forthcoming British Snowboard & Freeski Championships - an event which has played a pivotal role in identifying the 17 freestyle athletes on Team GB, which heads to PyeongChang with its largest and strongest squad ever to compete at a Winter Olympics.
For more than 25 years, The BRITS has been nurturing freest

As there's generally a fair bit of interest in this Winter Olympics carry-on, we thought we'd throw together a schedule for your viewing pleasure; though, close to being on the opposite side of the planet, and bound to daylight hours, we're unsure how much pleasure this viewing schedule may bring.

With the biggest show-on-snow about to kick off, what better time to update on the forthcoming British Snowboard & Freeski Championships - an event which has played a pivotal role in identifying the 17 freestyle athletes on Team GB, which heads to PyeongChang with its largest and strongest squad ever to compete at a Winter Olympics.
For more than 25 years, The BRITS has been nurturing freest

As there's generally a fair bit of interest in this Winter Olympics carry-on, we thought we'd throw together a schedule for your viewing pleasure; though, close to being on the opposite side of the planet, and bound to daylight hours, we're unsure how much pleasure this viewing schedule may bring.

With PyeongChang less than two weeks away and Olympic fever setting in, an exciting event is about to take place which will allow newcomers and lovers of snowsports to try a range of different disciplines.
British Ski & Snowboard together with Snowsport Scotland and Snowsport England is presenting a two-day celebration of snowsports at Scottish resort Lecht 2090.
The Lecht Winter Games w

The last week of major competition before the Olympic Winter Games is currently taking place with success for our freestyle skiers on one of the biggest stages in the sport.
Izzy Atkin and James Woods both scored top three finishes at the X-Games in Aspen in what has been widely viewed as one of the highest quality competitions of all time.
Elsewhere, Jasmin Taylor continued her phenomenal

Team GB will take more skiers and snowboarders to an Olympic Winter Games than ever before with a record number of athletes selected for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games.
Twenty-five athletes will compete across alpine, cross country, freestyle skiing and snowboard events with the previous record of 22 selected for Cortina 1956.